Leadship In Millennials

We’ve all worked with them – the manager who lives by the “this is the way we’ve always done it” principle; the manager who hovers over your shoulder; and the manager who is just as excited to get out of the office at 5 o’clock as everyone else.

As millennials continue to represent higher percentages of the workforce, predicted to be 46% by 2020, the outdated style of micromanagement has become less and less valuable – if there was ever any value to begin with.

To give these managers the benefit of the doubt, uninspiring, disengaged managers can teach millennials a thing or two. Having a difficult manager can teach millennials to follow, not lead. Learning to submit to managers, even when their ways are much different than yours, can teach millennials valuable lessons about humility and authority.

Being managed teaches young professionals how to be great managers, even if the lesson learned is what not to do.

However, inspiring managers and leaders have the ability to launch others into action. Through their words, motivations and demeanor, inspiration given by great leaders leads millennials to strive to be their best. Engaging millennials is best accomplished by inspiring them and investing in them – not employing outdated management strategies on them.

Using psychological principles, it is clear to see the link between inspiration and great professionals. The Tripartite Conceptualization of inspiration concludes there are three core characteristics that uniquely distinguish inspiration from other states of mind.

Transcendence

Inspiration and transcendence coalesce in that one perceives and becomes aware of greater possibilities. For millennials, to be inspired is to become creative, innovative and energized. Through transcendence and awareness, millennials begin to strive for something more, whether that is an idea or the inspiration to be better, work harder and imitate good leadership.

Evocation
Evocation describes the state of mind in which one feels called or compelled to act. Transcendence and evocation are complementary in the sense that one cannot awaken oneself to better possibilities; one must be awoken. Great leaders are critical to these moments, as they are often the ones cultivating the call to act.

Approach Motivation
The final element of Tripartite Conceptualization within inspiration is approach motivation, which can best be described as the feeling of being compelled to act. This is the mental framework that helps those who are inspired bring an idea to life – inspiring employees will help them feel compelled to act, to be creative and to pursue greatness.

Scientific studies continue to prove that the hypothesis linking inspiration to creativity is correct. Inspiration leads to innovation, creative ideas and, at times, groundbreaking discoveries. Knowing this, leaders cannot believe the lie that dictator-like management styles are effective.

When you give your employees something to care about and something to believe in, they become committed and loyal. Inspiration helps your employees do their best, while becoming great leaders in the making.

If you give an employee management and direction, they may get the job done. But if you give an employee inspiration, they may change the world – an outcome of insurmountable value.